Actor Danis Katranidis has passed away at the age of 75. The distinguished actor had withdrawn from acting in recent years due to health issues, which he never publicly discussed.
Friends and relatives will have the opportunity to say their final farewell to the beloved actor on Thursday, September 5, at 12:30 PM, at the Zografou Cemetery.
The news of his death was announced by Spyros Bibilas, the first vice president of the Association of Greek Actors and head of the Theater sector:
“Within the change of the month, our beloved multi-talented colleague, friend, the smiling child of the theater, a spiritual person who produced culture with every movement, has left us! Our beloved Danis Katranidis, this sad news shakes our entire artistic family…. The void is immense… ”, wrote Spyros Bibilas.
Danis Katranidis was born on August 4, 1949, and grew up in Aigaleo. He graduated from the drama school of Giorgos Theodosiadis in 1971. From 1971 to 1978, he was an actor at the National Theater.
During the 1978-1979 theater season, he made history in the role of the compiler in the legendary performance of Cabaret, starring Aliki Vougiouklaki.
He acted in all genres of theater, from tragedy and comedy to musicals and revue, while his participation in radio theater was also particularly noteworthy.
He taught at the Higher Drama School “Iasmos” and at the Theatrical Workshop “Vasilis Diamantopoulos”. His career in beloved television series, such as “Mysteries of Edem,” was also significant.
A lover of the sea and an excellent sailor, he had dozens of participations and achievements in open-sea races.
In his personal life, Danis Katranidis was married three times but did not have children. In 1971, he married actress Mirka Papakonstantinou, who was also his classmate at Giorgos Theodosiadis’ school. The couple divorced six years later but maintained excellent relations.
“I went through three marriages because initially, I wanted to start a family. There were many years between the marriages; they did not happen every month. The first and the second are 17 years apart, and the second and the third are ten. It’s a reasonable period for someone to say that they can build their life, start a family, and have children. I do not regret that I did it. The reason I did not have children was not pathological causes. There was another reason, and it seems better that way. I have no complaints. I have been given things generously in both work and life, more than I expected. I have made many mistakes; I thank the people who treated me with leniency,” Danis Katranidis admitted in an interview.
Filmography
1974 The trial of the judges
1975 The troupe
1980 The drifter
Wily female, cunning woman
1981 Spy Nelly
1982 The dam
1983 Attention, danger
1983 The little smugglers
2019 The search for Laura Durand
2021 Journey to the stars
STATEMENT BY CULTURE MINISTER LINA MENDONI REGARDING THE LOSS OF DANIS KATRANIDIS
Upon learning of the loss of Danis Katranidis, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni made the following statement:
Danis Katranidis was a great actor who leaves behind a distinct mark, maximizing his talent and perfecting his means of expression. He gifted us, over a span of fifty years, significant theatrical performances across a broad repertoire. The ease with which he served extremely demanding roles, as well as the naturalness with which he imposed his presence on stage, captivating the audience, concealed a talent that was cultivated with dedication and continuous work. Danis Katranidis’s selective appearances on the big screen and television confirmed his stamp as an important performer.
Danis Katranidis earned the love and appreciation of his peers and the general public. It is worth remembering other aspects of him, such as his alignment, with many of his colleagues, in favor of Democracy in the 1974 referendum, which revealed his sensitivity as a citizen.
I extend my sincerest condolences to his family, many friends, and colleagues.
K. Malama: Danis Katranidis was a multi-talented actor.
Danis Katranidis was an actor with a long career and genuine talent. He served the art of acting, having starred for five decades with his roles in major successes. Danis Katranidis was a multi-talented actor with performances in all genres of theater. He acted in theater, taught theater, and contributed much to Greek culture with his presence. Warm condolences to his family.
Kyriaki Malama
MP for Chalkidiki – Sector Head of Culture
SYRIZA – Progressive Alliance
Eleni Randou on Danis Katranidis: “You fought like a beast, rest now”
Actress Eleni Randou expressed her sorrow over the loss of her beloved colleague through a Facebook post, writing: “Safe travels, Danis Katranidis. You fought like a beast. Rest now… Another wonderful person traveled this summer.” Her post gathered many messages of support and emotion from friends and fans.
Vasia Panagopoulou on Danis Katranidis: “The theater is poorer without you”
The news of Danis Katranidis’s death caused sadness in the artistic community, and many of his colleagues have begun to post condolences on social media.
Vasia Panagopoulou, who collaborated with the distinguished actor at the beginning of her career, posted a picture of them together, writing in the caption: “When in your very early steps in cinema you have the luck to collaborate with an actor of character and talent like Danis Katranidis, you are blessed. I met him in my first film ‘the little smugglers’ directed by Pavlos Tasiou. I do not forget his substantial kindness. Safe travels to the light, our Danis. The theater is poorer without you.”
The heartbreaking message from Giannis Vouros: “The Golgotha is over, that’s it”
The unpleasant news that Danis Katranidis took his last breath after a long battle with his health hit like lightning. The actor was particularly beloved by his colleagues, and when asked about his health condition, they did not want to go into many details. Giannis Vouros made a heartfelt post on his Facebook account about the difficult battle that Danis Katranidis fought and which has now come to an end.
“The Golgotha is over, Danis. That’s it. Rest,” wrote Giannis Vouros for his good friend and colleague.
Tania Tsanaklidou: “You will always be in my heart, a part of my life”
Tania Tsanaklidou bid farewell to Danis Katranidis, who passed away at the age of 75.
With an old photo of them, the singer and actress reminisced about the time when the late actor and his then-wife, Mirka Papakonstantinou, stood by her like family.
She also described how she started her career with the money she earned from a lottery ticket they bought together with Danis Katranidis.
As she wrote: “My beloved friend. In the summer of ’73, we bought a lottery ticket together on the beach of Kavala. We won 8,000 drachmas, 4,000 each. With that money to start, I went down to Athens with the white beetle you had back then with our beloved Mirka. You took care of me like your child, you were beautiful children then. At that time you were my family. Years went by; we lost touch recently, but I never ‘lost’ you.
Now I must say goodbye to you. But you will always be in my heart, a part of my life, those exciting years, with your laughter, your wild teasing, and your humor.
Others will speak of your talent. I want to say goodbye with a great thank you for being my brother with so much kindness. Goodnight, my dear friend. The list of losses is getting very long.”